02/01/2026
Is Your Inner Circle a Fortress or a Sieve?
In The Art of War, Sun Tzu’s first principle is the Moral Law. This is the harmony between a leader and their people.
Security comes from ensuring your partners and family are in "complete accord." If those you do business with don't share your foundational beliefs, your "fortress" has a crack.
Audit your associations. Align strictly with those who prioritize the "Americans Invested in America" mindset. If a partner is only motivated by the "spirit of Mammon," they are a liability in a crisis.
Incorporate “In God We Trust”
We see it on our money, but do we see it in our Master Service Agreements? Do we see it in our Go-To-Market strategies?
When I look at the state of the world, I don’t see a political problem; I see an alignment problem.
Our founding fathers were flawed men, but they were faith-based men who understood that without a shared moral foundation, the "spirit of Mammon" (greed and self-interest) would eventually rot the structure from the inside out.
They were wise enough to leave us room to improve, but they didn't leave us room to abandon the foundation. I’d rather stand with a smaller, principled "Inner Circle" than a massive, unaligned crowd.
When I say "In God We Trust" in a business context, I’m talking about a Covenant Mindset:
1. Transparency as Worship: We don't hide the numbers or the truth.
2. Stewardship over Ownership: We are managers of the opportunities we’ve been given.
3. The "Moral Law" Filter: We only align with those who believe in a foundation higher than the current cultural trend.
As an entrepreneur, I’ve realized that the "spirit of Mammon"—the pursuit of profit at the expense of principle—is a security risk. If your partner’s only loyalty is to the dollar, they will be the first to leave you exposed when the "imminent danger" arrives.
In my businesses—from the energy drink market to entertainment management—I’ve stopped settling for "contracts" and started looking for Covenants.
I choose to adhere to those who align with me. Here is my non-negotiable standard:
• Accountability over Alibis: If you can't own your failures, you can't own your success. I have no room for partners who blame the "system" while ignoring their own perimeter.
• Purpose Over Profit: We are "Americans Invested in America." If your only God is the bottom line, we don’t share a language or belong in the same boardroom.
• The Vetting Mindset: Open Minds, Closed Ranks. We listen to everything, but we only trust the vetted.
The danger isn't just "out there"—it's in who we allow "in here."
When things get difficult, the only thing that matters is the character of the person standing next to you.
We are building more than businesses; we are building secure networks of "Americans Invested in America." If you’re not vetting your circle for alignment now, you’re already at risk.
Who is in your foxhole?
